University of Otago researchers are studying rugby players who have experienced multiple bouts of concussion. Photo: 123RF

A new initiative to bridge the gap between research and clinical care for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) has been announced by Auckland University of Technology. Currently, 36,000 New Zealanders suffer a TBI, ranging from the the mild to the severe, each year at a cost of $100 million to the health system. However, public awareness of head injuries remains low, and there is not a broad consensus on how to treat them. The new TBI Network will pull together medical experts, key organisations and patients to prioritise research to better prevent and manage head injuries. Associate Professor Alice Theadom is the director of the TBI Network and joins Kathryn to explain what they hope to achieve.